Word Origin & History

patronage 1412, "right of presenting a qualified person to a church benefice," from M.L. patronizare (1382) or O.Fr. patroniser (1456); see patron. General sense of "power to give jobs or favors" is from 1769; meaning "regular business of customers" is 1804.

Example Sentences for patronage

These are places and businesses worthy of your patronage.

Without that patronage, I don't know that it would have gotten published.

Finding a job at a Web site can be like securing the patronage of a 15th-century benefactor.

My chief occupation is going around with a forked stick picking up little fragments of patronage for my constituents.

Then practicality might start to become a driving concern behind these projects rather than patronage jobs and land buy-outs.

It ran eight years, and was then closed for want of patronage.

Its grip on state institutions and patronage is unlikely to be challenged.

Some of the benefits of patronage are undeniable.

He now directed his literary activities to the two ends of winning powerful patronage and establishing himself in public esteem.

The state said the use of the school system for patronage has continued.